ATI Mental Health Final Exam Practice Questions 2026 |Answers
|Rationales
1. A nurse is caring for a client who is being honest about their history of
substance abuse despite being afraid of judgment. The nurse’s commitment to
being truthful with the client is an example of which ethical principle?
A. Autonomy
B. Justice
C. Veracity
D. Fidelity
Answer: C
Rationale: Veracity refers to the duty to tell the truth and be honest with clients.
2. A nurse is placing a client in mechanical restraints due to aggressive behavior.
How often should the nurse document the client’s status and safety?
A. Every 4 hours
B. Every 2 hours
C. Once per shift
D. Every 15 to 30 minutes
Answer: D
Rationale: For clients in restraints, documentation of safety, physical needs, and mental
status must occur every 15 to 30 minutes.
,3. A client states, ‘I just can’t take it anymore. Everything is falling apart.’ The
nurse responds, ‘You feel like things are becoming overwhelming?’ Which
communication technique is the nurse using?
A. Exploring
B. Presenting reality
C. Offering self
D. Restating
Answer: D
Rationale: Restating involves repeating the main idea expressed by the client to confirm
understanding.
4. A nurse is assessing a client for suicide risk. Which of the following findings
should the nurse identify as the highest risk factor?
A. The client is married.
B. The client has a history of a previous suicide attempt.
C. The client has a full-time job.
D. The client is active in their religious community.
Answer: B
Rationale: A history of previous suicide attempts is the strongest predictor of future
completed suicide.
5. A nurse is monitoring a client taking Lithium Carbonate for Bipolar Disorder.
Which of the following serum lithium levels indicates toxicity?
A. 0.6 mEq/L
B. 1.0 mEq/L
C. 1.2 mEq/L
D. 1.8 mEq/L
Answer: D
, Rationale: The therapeutic range for lithium is 0.6 to 1.2 mEq/L. A level of 1.5 mEq/L or
higher is considered toxic.
6. A client who is angry with their provider but expresses excessive praise
toward them during a session is using which defense mechanism?
A. Displacement
B. Rationalization
C. Reaction Formation
D. Sublimation
Answer: C
Rationale: Reaction formation is when a person expresses the opposite emotion or
behavior of what they actually feel.
7. A nurse is caring for a client with schizophrenia who is experiencing auditory
hallucinations. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Argue with the client that the voices are not real.
B. Agree with the client that you hear the voices too.
C. Tell the client to ignore the voices.
D. Ask the client, ‘What are the voices saying to you?’
Answer: D
Rationale: Asking what the voices are saying helps assess for command hallucinations,
which can pose a safety risk.
8. A nurse is planning care for a client in the manic phase of Bipolar Disorder.
Which of the following nutritional interventions is most appropriate?
A. Offer low-calorie snacks throughout the day.
B. Encourage the client to sit for 30 minutes during meals.
C. Provide a high-calorie finger food diet.
D. Serve large meals three times a day.
Answer: C
|Rationales
1. A nurse is caring for a client who is being honest about their history of
substance abuse despite being afraid of judgment. The nurse’s commitment to
being truthful with the client is an example of which ethical principle?
A. Autonomy
B. Justice
C. Veracity
D. Fidelity
Answer: C
Rationale: Veracity refers to the duty to tell the truth and be honest with clients.
2. A nurse is placing a client in mechanical restraints due to aggressive behavior.
How often should the nurse document the client’s status and safety?
A. Every 4 hours
B. Every 2 hours
C. Once per shift
D. Every 15 to 30 minutes
Answer: D
Rationale: For clients in restraints, documentation of safety, physical needs, and mental
status must occur every 15 to 30 minutes.
,3. A client states, ‘I just can’t take it anymore. Everything is falling apart.’ The
nurse responds, ‘You feel like things are becoming overwhelming?’ Which
communication technique is the nurse using?
A. Exploring
B. Presenting reality
C. Offering self
D. Restating
Answer: D
Rationale: Restating involves repeating the main idea expressed by the client to confirm
understanding.
4. A nurse is assessing a client for suicide risk. Which of the following findings
should the nurse identify as the highest risk factor?
A. The client is married.
B. The client has a history of a previous suicide attempt.
C. The client has a full-time job.
D. The client is active in their religious community.
Answer: B
Rationale: A history of previous suicide attempts is the strongest predictor of future
completed suicide.
5. A nurse is monitoring a client taking Lithium Carbonate for Bipolar Disorder.
Which of the following serum lithium levels indicates toxicity?
A. 0.6 mEq/L
B. 1.0 mEq/L
C. 1.2 mEq/L
D. 1.8 mEq/L
Answer: D
, Rationale: The therapeutic range for lithium is 0.6 to 1.2 mEq/L. A level of 1.5 mEq/L or
higher is considered toxic.
6. A client who is angry with their provider but expresses excessive praise
toward them during a session is using which defense mechanism?
A. Displacement
B. Rationalization
C. Reaction Formation
D. Sublimation
Answer: C
Rationale: Reaction formation is when a person expresses the opposite emotion or
behavior of what they actually feel.
7. A nurse is caring for a client with schizophrenia who is experiencing auditory
hallucinations. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Argue with the client that the voices are not real.
B. Agree with the client that you hear the voices too.
C. Tell the client to ignore the voices.
D. Ask the client, ‘What are the voices saying to you?’
Answer: D
Rationale: Asking what the voices are saying helps assess for command hallucinations,
which can pose a safety risk.
8. A nurse is planning care for a client in the manic phase of Bipolar Disorder.
Which of the following nutritional interventions is most appropriate?
A. Offer low-calorie snacks throughout the day.
B. Encourage the client to sit for 30 minutes during meals.
C. Provide a high-calorie finger food diet.
D. Serve large meals three times a day.
Answer: C
